Fred,
Mine was every bit the horror stories you hear. But that was years ago and the tooth had infected the gums so badly that I had to go five days and they would drill out everything and pack it again with antibiotics until they got rid of all of the infection. The dentist said they couldn't take any chance on having any infection at all left under there once they did the finish work. I just have trouble now with my old fillings and the teeth they are on cracking. Dinosaur bone just didn't make for lasting fillings.
Ron